Panning for gold, in the kitchen?

When Mike and I walked our adjacent wash we were thinking that gold would be washed down this way from the Weaver Mountains upstream.

The ripples in the culvert act like a sluice box, catching the heaviest materials.

While I was in Texas Mike gathered sand from the culvert and brought it home.

Panning can be done at one’s leisure.

Last night Mike set up a tub of water so we could pan for gold in the kitchen.

He patiently taught me the way to swirl the water in the gold pan so the heaviest material washes out.

Slowly the small rocks and sand washed away and it sure did sparkle, mostly with the light weight mica floating to the top and washing away.

If there’s gold, it’s found in the black sand.

OMG, we’re Rich!

Not really. Mike panned these tiny flakes of gold in Stanton years ago. He seeded the pan of soil I washed and I was worried it would wash away. But gold is very heavy and sunk to the bottom. Wow, now I’m ready to go gold mining. But first, and while waiting for warmer weather, there’s the local dirt to pan right here in the kitchen.

GoGirl - don't take life sitting down

Woman can pee standing

I can’t squat without peeing on my feet and have wanted one of these for years. So I finally ordered it. IT is a Female Urination Device (FUD), or for the uninitiated a funnel, which comes in either pink or camouflage brown stored in a re-usable tube. No prejudice here. This handy little GoGirl beauty is made from flexible medical grade silicone and is rinseable and reusable. I don’t want to be a Man but have always envied their ability to pee almost anywhere without having to expose their entire lower half. I quite frequently hike wearing a mid-calf length skirt and often find myself with nowhere to hide. When traveling I’ve seen too many icky, dirty toilets, sometimes with no seat, to crouch over while my legs cramp. And I’ve made a few emergency side-of-the-road stops trying to hide in a ditch or hang cheeks over a fallen log. But no more. “Because life’s greatest adventure shouldn’t be finding a bathroom” says GoGirl, and I agree.

This handy little FUD will be going with me to South Africa for the month of March. I can see where it may come in handy while on safari at Kruger National Park, hiking in the Drakenberg Mountains or anywhere out in the bush veldt.

I first read about the GoGirl on RuthieJ’s blog Nature Knitter. Please don't think I'm endorsing this company, yet. I'll have to let you know if this thing really works. I did send the company a letter similar to this post and if they use it I could win a free GoGirl and T-shirt.

Happy to be Alive and Blogging

Janie at Janie & Steve’s Utah Trails awarded me the Happiness Blog Award. Thank you.
Janie shares her passion for Utah’s gorgeous landscapes with her husband, horses and Queen-dog Daisy.

As I put this post together I am overwhelmed with love. I can only take partial credit for this award, the rest goes to all of you fellow bloggers and sweet friends. Without you, I wouldn’t be here. Thank you. We are writing history for future generations around the world. Wow!

Sunrise at Grand Canyon National Park
“I’m supposed to name 10 things I love:”
1. Life, the greatest gift. Thanks Mom and Dad. Life is Magic!
2. Nature, all the life around me plus what are called “inanimate” objects like rocks and such.
3. Love itself, I am surrounded.
4. Friends, who I would barely survive without.
5. The journey, life is about enjoying the Now and absorbing every moment as it happens.
6. Honesty, most important first to myself and not to lie to others.
7. Laughter, it really is the best medicine and infectious. Why take life so seriously.
8. Free will, making choices to grow and change. No is a complete answer.
9. Discovery, learning new things about this magnificent place we call home and the people who live here.
10. Exploration, adventure, travel. OK, so that’s a couple extra yet it all ties together.

Painting by (Aunt) Kay Serigas
Then I'm supposed to pass this along to 10 blogs I truly enjoy reading. Very hard to pick only 10, yet I highly recommend these plus the other blogs on my sidebar for happy reading. Please don’t feel obligated to do anything except acknowledge your greatness, and life will bring you immense joy.

Joan at South Africa Photographs also known as “The Bug Lady” shares her views and knowledge of South Africa both big and small. I am always fascinated by her macros of the tiny life, and the other flora and fauna found in her world.

Jonker at The Firefly Photo Files takes me to places in South Africa that I hope to visit soon. He has an incredible eye for photographing the unique.

Mike at blog with no name I admire for starting his own blog after only a very short time online. Mike writes from the heart when he can find time. (Plus I love him!)

Moannie at The View from this End writes a compleling story as she shares the history of her family with such feeling. Moannie lives in the United Kingdom and may have the best husband in the world.

Bibi at A Yankee-in-Belgrade is an amazing photographer who travels and shares her home and adventures with passion.

Craver VII is always up about life and has the most laughable sense of humor.

Dawns bloggy blog is full of adventure as her and husband travel in a RV visiting some of America’s most beautiful places, hiking and birding along the way with family and fellow bloggers.

Karen at FabGrandma lives with her husband full time in a RV cooking gluten-free and shares their life’s adventures, both ups and downs.

Tom at This is my blog shares images of life and land around the area of his Midwestern home, and beyond, in such an intimate way I feel like I’m there.

Abe Lincoln at Pick a Peck of Pixels creatively shares his personal history thru writing and art, plus his passion for the wildlife around him displayed in amazing photos.

I sure hope you will enjoy these bloggers as much as I do. Feel free to pass these along, or not. And even if I didn’t get you on this list, take what you will and pass it along. This avenue of communication may be the answer to Peace on Earth. Be part of the movement.

SWF - My head's in the clouds

South Texas coast
I can never get too much of watching the sky. And what a wonderful opportunity I got when flying to Texas.

Looking east
Yet I truly love my Arizona sunsets best.

To view more skies from around the world, or to share your own, go to Sky Watch Friday by clicking here.

Trials and Tribulations in Texas

Gulf coast
I’m rather at a loss. What can I say about my most recent trip to Texas to see my parents. I really don’t want to spill my guts about a lousy childhood, nor I’m sure do you all want to read about it. Suffice it to say that my Mom and I have never really gotten along.

Mom

My toe nails haven't been painted in 30 years
I don’t want you to think there was no fun. Mom and I had a great time getting a pedicure, a first for both of us.

Dad
We visited my Dad in the nursing home several times. He’s had several strokes and can only communicate a little.

Aunt Kay
I reached a breaking point and walked out of Mom’s house on Sunday, rented a car and went to stay with my Aunt for two nights. She is truly a sweetheart, a retired RN, and probably the only person that knows and understands my Mom. We had a wonderful visit.

Stormy sky over Texas
Now I’m back home with much to do. Part of that is coming to grips with what to do about Mom. I believe that she’s bi-polar, possibly delusional, and a danger to herself and others when she drives. I’m not asking for sympathy, but am open to suggestions. I have a lot of research to do and will likely blog more about this.

Houston airport

My first time online in over a week. I'm feeling the withdrawls. Sitting in the Houston airport not eating the worse $15 meal I've ever seen. Yuck!!!! Fly out at 9am and should be home this afternoon. YEA!!! I've missed everyone and make no gaurantees I'll ever catch up on blog posts. Please accept my applogies. I can hardly wait to return to Arizona. There's no place like home.